The 2018 IWGS Symposium was held in San Angelo, Texas, from Sept. 16 to 18. The City of San Angelo could not have been more excited and welcoming to see the IWGS come back to their fair city. Board membersMore…
Find New Plants and Design Ideas at the the IWGS 2018 Symposium
Industry friends, followers & flowers flock to West Texas.
I’ve been a member of the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society (IWGS) since the beginning. We launched the society in fall 1994 at a special party at the home of Charles and Sally Thomas in Buckeystown, Maryland. The featuredMore…
Attend the 2018 International Water Garden Symposium and Visit the International Waterlily Collection
All are invited to the friendly state of Texas for this year’s International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society (IWGS) Symposium from Sept. 13—16, 2018. If you find yourself wondering why this year’s symposium is being held in a somewhat remoteMore…
Planting a Bog Filter
Planting a Bog Filter? You don’t have to limit yourself to the plants listed below; these are just guidelines. Experiment and have fun! We’ve grown everything from cacti (yes, cactus!) to annuals to vegetables in our bogs! Most plants seemMore…
Bog Gravel Filtration: Water Cleaned by Mother Nature

I have always been intrigued by the idea of turning waste into a resource, and that is exactly what a bog gravel filter does for you. It turns fish and plant waste into fertilizer (plant food). This plant food isMore…
Where’s the Baby
Where is the Baby! is a web page hosted by Nelson Water Gardens and Nursery, in Katy, Texas. Addie Nelson, their granddaughter, is pictured here on the pad of a Victoria Lily.
Why Have a Gift Shop and What Sells
Learn from our industry expert about the ins and outs of having a gift shop as part of your pond store. Anita shares with you eight great reasons why you should have one; what gift items have worked for her;More…
Plumbing Glazed Pottery Into Fountains
Would you like a step-by-step, inexpensive technique that makes for a quick and watertight adaptation of glazed pottery into beautiful fountains? Nelson Water Gardens shows you how. Learn how to use a PVC standpipe. It directs a plume of waterMore…
How–to Disappearing Fountain Installation
A 14-step guide, with pictures, on how to install a beautiful Disappearing Fountain. Included are tips on pot selection, reservoirs, and how to care for the fountain. Learn from the experts and avoid some of those first time mistakes –More…
Newsletter – What You Need to Know
Rolf and Anita Nelson owners of Nelson Water Gardens share their thoughts on publishing a newsletter: Have you been considering a newsletter? The following story may help you decide: If there was any doubt whether or not Nelson Water Gardens’More…